No. in 
A.J. 
Data Caniphell's No. of 
No. Book. Eggs. 
324 747 5 
325 748 2 
e256 757) 5 
327 691 I 
THE JACKSONIAN OOLOGICAL COLLECTION. 
WHISTLING DUCK, 
Dendyvocycna avcuata, Cuvier. 
Five eggs, rare, taken from a nest built in a field of ripe oats, at Caramana, Clarence River, 
N.S.W., on the 9th of November, 1893 (not 1894 as I erroneously stated in A. J. Campbell’s book on 
page 1026). The nest contained 10 eggs, and I very foolishly broke the set in order to try and accom- 
modate and help another friend collector. I am sorry to a certain degree about it now, because we 
have taken no others since. The nest was constructed of a layer of dead grass and straw, upon which 
were placed a few dozen leaves of the Spotted Eucalypt (Eucalyptus maculata), and was devoid of any 
down or feathers. Both birds (3 and ?) were shot at the nest, and proved to be the “ Whistler.” 
The eggs are of a cream colour, and have a very thin coating of lime, and are thickly marked with rich 
yellowish smears, and two of them have a rich purplish-brown spot, which seems remarkable for a duck’s 
egg to possess. The late George Barnard, of Coomooboolaroo, near Rockhampton, Queensland, took 
a set of these eggs on the 25th of May, 1890, and several of which possessed these same strange 
purplish markings. Taken by Frank and Sid. W. Jackson. An average specimen of the 5 eggs 
measures in inches = 2:07 x 1°57. 
PLUMED WHISTLER, 
Dendrocycna eytoni, Gould. 
This pair of eggs was taken from a nest built in grass near a swamp, in the Nicholson River district, 
North-west Queensland, by C. Woodlands, on the 16th of March, 1898. They are smaller and much 
more rounded than those of D. arcuata, Cuvier, and are also much glossier than those of the former 
species and the surface more granulated, but microscopically so. Specimen A. measures = 1°93 x 
1°52. Specimen B. measures = 1°88 x 1°51. 
PINK-EARED DUCK, 
Malacorhynchus membranaceus, Latham. 
This set of 5 rare eggs was taken from a nest, built in a tall hollow stump, on the edge of Alipou 
Swamp, South Grafton, N.S.W., on the 13th of September, 1896, by Frank and Sid. W. Jackson. The 
nest was lined with feathers and down, which were simply trampled into the hollow at the top of the 
stump. The eggs were heavily incubated, and were difficult to blow; however, patience and perse- 
verance has given 5 neatly blown specimens to the collection. The shell of these eggs Is the hardest 
I have ever attempted to bore, and the best drill I had soon told a tale after operating on four of them. 
S. Robinson informs me that he has found them difficult to treat with, owing to the Solidity of the shell, 
and has taken some of them in South-west Queensland. The eggs are of a rich light cream colour, 
and rather glossy, and have a fine texture of shell, and when rolled together produce a peculiar grating 
noise. Under the lens, however, I find the shell is not pitted, and like most of the eggs of the Anatide 
family, are minutely granulated, each tiny excrescence being smooth on top, and the construction of 
the shell resembles very much that of the Jabiru (Xenorhynchus asiaticus), Latham. This set of 5 are 
the only eggs I have seen of this bird. Nest was placed 16 feet above the ground. An average 
specimen measures in inches = 1°82 x 1°35. 
Dra WEL A. (Bottom drawer on left side of Cabinet.) 
WANDERING ALBATROSS, 
Diomedea exulans, Linnzeus. 
Clutch of one egg, which is the usual complement for a sitting. It was taken on Campbell Island, 
South Pacific Ocean, on the gth of January, 1897, by the captain of a whaling vessel, during a cruise 
in those parts. Campbell Island is in the South Pacific, south-east of New Zealand, to which it belongs. 
57 
